Sydney Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu has been accused of clashing with Brisbane players, including Ezra Mam, at a team hotel just hours after he was hit with a formal complaint over racist comments by the Broncos star.
While the Roosters won 20-10 in their historic match against the Broncos in Las Vegas on Sunday AEDT, the result was soured by the alleged slur, which came after players from both sides had a heated on-field confrontation.
“Ezra has made a formal complaint,” referee Adam Gee told the Roosters after the scuffle. “It is racist in nature against Spencer. I did not hear it. The incident will be reported and will be dealt with afterwards. That’s what matters.’
In the audio of the match broadcast, Mom can be heard telling referee Gee, “He called me a monkey.” Another Broncos player also says, “He called him a monkey.”
Gee then asked Mom if he wanted to file a formal complaint, to which Mom replied, “Yes, I do.”
Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam files formal complaint over racist comments made to referee Adam Gee during their clash with the Sydney Roosters
Broncos players, led by center Kotoni Staggs, rushed in to defend Mam after Roosters player Spencer Leniu’s alleged comment
It has now been reported that Leniu clashed again with Broncos players in a hallway of the Vegas hotel where both teams were staying.
The Roosters forward met Mam and his teammates Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, and launched into a tirade against Mam over the accusation he made, according to News Corp.
The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that both teams confirmed there was an altercation but insisted it was verbal in nature.
After the match, Leniu reacted bizarrely when asked about the racist comments on the pitch.
‘I think it’s all fun and enjoyable when we’re on the field. That’s it,’ he said.
When Leniu was further asked if he was concerned about the possible consequences, he replied: “Not concerned at all.”
Indigenous South Sydney half Cody Walker called out Leniu on social media, sharing the image of that interview with the caption: “Fun and games they count.”
Gammin or gammon is an Aboriginal word meaning fake, cheap or broken.
Indigenous South Sydney Rabbitohs star Cody Walker called out Leniu for his post-match comments about the incident
A host of current and former NRL players, including Latrell Mitchell and Reece Walsh, posted messages of support for Mam
Indigenous South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell also backed the Broncos half after the incident, posting: ‘I’m behind you bala @ezra mom. @NRL better handle this s**t.
Mom’s superstar teammate Reece Walsh also supported the half after the incident, writing: “I always have my brother.”
After the game, Broncos coach Kevin Walters said Mom was visibly upset about the incident.
“He’s quite upset in there but we’ll leave that to the police and the NRL,” Walters said.
Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters said Mam was angry about the incident after the match at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
Leniu clashed with Brisbane Broncos players at their team hotel later in the evening following the alleged on-field incident
‘We support Ezra and our player with everything surrounding it. He is adamant. We’ll leave it to the NRL. They look at it.
‘We certainly do not accept that within our club. It’s not our fault. We won’t answer any more questions about it other than to say we support Ezra in any way we can. We respect the NRL, and they will deal with it.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson did not want to be involved in the matter.
“I have no comment on it, I don’t know what happened,” he said.
“Ezra is adamant, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. He filed the complaint, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. It will go through a formal process as it should be.”